Team Canada Finalizes 2023 World Junior Championship Roster

Team Canada's roster is set for the 2023 world juniors after cutting 10 players from the camp roster. Tony Ferrari breaks down the players at each position.

After two games against teams made up of U Sports players and a short training camp, Team Canada has made the final cuts to their U-20 roster in preparation for the World Junior Championship.

Getting the roster down from 32 players to 22 was a big task considering Canada’s depth of talent, but ultimately, they decided to go with two goalies, seven defenders and 13 forwards. Two goalies, three blueliners, and five forwards were cut for a total of 10 players.

Defender Carson Lambos (MIN) was a returnee who was cut in a mild surprise, but he didn’t perform well in the lone game he got into at the summer tournament. Other defenders cut included Evan Nause (FLA) and Ethan Samson (undrafted). Tyler Brennan (NJD) and the undrafted William Rousseau were the two goalies sent home.

Among the forward group, two of the QMJHL’s top scorers in Jordan Dumais (CBJ) and Zachary Bolduc (STL) were cut from the team. Ryan Greene (CHI) was a standout in camp but didn’t do enough to overcome his long odds. Montreal prospects Riley Kidney who battled injuries at camp and Owen Beck round out the forward cuts.

The final roster is listed below:

G Benjamin Gaudreau, Sarnia, OHL (SJS )

G Thomas Milic, Seattle, WHL (2023 NHL draft Overager)

RHD Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles, NHL

LHD Ethan Del Mastro, Mississauga, OHL (CHI)

LHD Olen Zellweger, Everett, WHL (ANA)

LHD Tyson Hinds, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (ANA)

LHD Kevin Korchinski, Seattle, WHL (CHI)

LHD Nolan Allan, Seattle, WHL (CHI)

RHD Jack Matier, Ottawa, OHL (NSH)

C Shane Wright, Seattle, NHL (SEA)

W Dylan Guenther, Arizona, NHL (ARI)

C/W Connor Bedard, Regina, WHL (2023 NHL draft)

C/W Adam Fantilli, University of Michigan, NCAA (2023 NHL draft)

W Nathan Gaucher, Quebec, QMJHL (ANA)

W Zack Ostapchuk, Vancouver, WHL (OTT)

W Brennan Othmann, Peterborough, OHL (NYR)

C/W Logan Stankoven, Kamloops, WHL (DAL)

C/W Zach Dean, Gatineau, QMJHL (VGK)

W Joshua Roy, Sherbrooke, QMJHL (MTL)

C/W Colton Dach, Kelowna, WHL (CHI)

W Caedan Bankier, Kamloops, WHL (MIN)

W Reid Schaefer, Seattle, WHL (EDM)

Now that we have the roster, let’s break down each position group.

Gaudreau hasn’t had the best season in the OHL this year, but he has played well whenever he’s had the chance to pull on the Canadian sweater. His performance at the U-18s a couple of years ago after not playing hockey that season due to COVID-19 was outstanding. A strong camp and a good track record likely gave Gaudreau the edge when it came to making this squad.

The Canadian squad opted for Seattle Thunderbirds netminder Thomas Milic as the other goaltender for this year’s edition of the U-20 squad. Milic has been quite strong this year for an impressive Seattle club in the WHL. He’s played for the national team at the U-17 and U-18 levels as well, performing admirably as the backup in most cases. This could be the year he takes the starter role.

On the blueline, the Canadians look to have a very good top three with Zellweger, Del Mastro and Clarke leading the way. Zellweger was second in scoring for Canada and was a key piece for the squad last summer as they won gold. He should continue to be an offensive force and dynamic presence in transition. Del Mastro also returns to help defend the title for Canada but likely won’t be playing a depth role as he did in the summer. Del Mastro will play a defensive role, likely alongside one of the dynamic offensive-leaning blueliners.

His potential partner could very well be Brandt Clarke who was loaned from the Los Angeles Kings. After being snubbed for the team last winter and over the summer, Clarke is going to bring offensive creativity and two-way play as he plays with a chip on his shoulder trying to prove he should have been on those teams.

The emergence of Matier over the last year has allowed him to get onto the Canadian’s radar for this year's U-20 event. He’s always had a smart defensive game, but his development as a player who can make a great first pass out of his own end after thwarting an offensive chance is what put him on this roster.

Korchinski is a transition game beast, especially on the breakout. He has escapability in his own end, dealing with forechecks as well as anyone on the roster. The Seattle Thunderbirds blueliner will likely play a depth role, but if an injury occurs, he would be an excellent addition just about anywhere in the lineup.

Allan is a defensive blueliner who plays a no-nonsense game. He doesn’t bring the flashiest plays, but he brings an element that Canada is going to want on the penalty kill and when defending leads. Allan is a mobile defensive defenseman who plays an excellent fundamental game with his skating as the base of everything that he does.

The addition of Hinds is a bit of a surprise. The Sherbrooke Pheonix blueliner is a mobile defender who plays with a physical edge and has shown growth offensively as he’s gained confidence with the puck on his stick. He may not play a top-four role, but he earned the roster spot thanks to strong development in all aspects of his game.

The highlight of this team will undoubtedly be the firepower that they have up front. Bedard could be the centerpiece of the squad despite coming in as the team’s youngest player while Wright is going to be looking for a bit of redemption as the shine on his star has started to come off a bit. Regardless if they play Wright and Bedard together or line them up as the strongest one-two punch down the middle at the tournament, Canada’s forward group has two of the front-runners for the tournament's MVP.

The talent is seemingly endless for the team as Guenther was playing NHL games this year in Arizona while Fantilli is projected as a top-three pick for the upcoming NHL draft. Guenther could slot in on the wing of either of the top two lines while Fantilli could line up at either center or on the wing up and down the lineup. If either was leading the tournament in goal-scoring by the end, no one would question it at all.

Othmann has played with Wright in the past with great success, which could make him an ideal linemate as the built-in chemistry could serve well at a short tournament like the World Junior Championship. His agitator mentality would be a major asset in the Canadian top six as well, bringing some offensive skill with a never-back-down attitude. Gaucher and Ostapchuk could provide some of that same grit and vigor lower down in the lineup unless Canada finds a mix that sees them slot into a top-six role akin to Othmann.

Wherever Stankoven plays in the lineup, he could be one of the most entertaining and productive players for the Canadian squad. He could drive a line and win his minutes in a big way should he slot into the bottom six, or he could compliment Wright, Bedard and company in the top six.

There is a good mix of players filling out the rest of the forward group. Roy returns after notching eight points in seven games at the summer tournament for Canada and should provide some excellent complimentary scoring yet again.

Bankier earned his role in camp despite coming into it as a long shot to make the team. His meat-and-potatoes game is going to work well in Canada’s bottom six. He could be used on the penalty kill as well.

Edmonton Oilers first-rounder Reid Schaefer had quite a strong start to his WHL season, although it was on the back of a high shooting percentage. Now that regression has hit, he hasn’t been finding the back of the net nearly as often. The hope will be that Schaefer can use his shot and size to score some goals in the bottom six with whichever one of the team's skilled playmakers finds themselves lower in the lineup.

Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Dach plays a workman-like game and brings some size to the lineup. He will be asked to play near the bottom of the lineup, provide good minutes against opponents' bottom-six players, grind them out and play a bit on the penalty kill.

Canada opted to keep some speed and skill around for their bottom six with Dean. He plays with pace and puck skill, keeping opponents on their heels, and generating offense through creativity. Dean should be an excellent depth scorer who can be a bit of a dual threat and pressure with his speed at both ends of the ice.